Fastener applying device



Nov. 11, 1952 H. J. SPENCER 2,617,097

FASTENER APPLYING DEVICE Filed Nov. 1. 1949 e sheetssneet 1 4/ 2 .6jk INVENTOR.

v Herman J. Spencer 2 y BY I Wdl; M y 6M,

HIS ATTORNEYS NOV. l1, 19452 H, J, SPENCER 2,617,097

FASTENER APPLYING DEVICE Filed Nov. l, 1949 .-6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR. Herman J. Spencer Hl` ATTORNEYS H. J. SPENCER FASTENER APPLYING DEVICE Nov. l1, 1952 e sheets-'sheet s Filed NOV. l, 1949 INVENTOR. Herman J. Spencer BY [4404 ML; rw,

HIS ATTORNEYS Nov. 1l, A1952 H. J. SPENCER 2,617,097

FASTENER APPLYING DEVICE Filed Nov. l, 1949 6 *Sheets-Sheet 4 m faul 36 22a 43a 43o 42 4 3. 43a

Y c| Il' 27411 my MEEI A22h im 35 26 43h 59h 1315.20 4l F5919 INVENTOR. Herman J. Spencer W al wawum.

Nov. 11, 1952 H, J. SPENCER 2,617,097

FASTENER APPLYING DEVICE Filed Nov. l, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sla 9| 94 |00 98 97 96 84h 85 sa es se |04 os aa IN VEN TOR. Herm an ./.Spencer :v4-AJ; maf/7 MM HLS- ATTORNEYS NOV. ll, 1952 H, 1 SPENCER 2,617,097

FASTENER APPLYING DEVICE Filed Nov. l, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 l -Vo ||H|" BY :lim Il hl. i huhu 8o Maa, @,amw

'HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. l1, 1952 UNITED kSTATES PATENT OFFICE FAS-TENER lPLYING DEVICE I'ermain J. Spencer, Ingo'mar, Pa. Application November 1, 1949, Serial No. 124,790

(ci. 1--4vi This invention relates to a fastener applying device such for example as a stapling `or taeking device in which staples or otherY fasteners are fed to a staple driving throat and are then acted upon by a spring actuated staple driver. The staple driver is actuated by a spring in which energy is stored upon depression of a manually operated lever, the driver being held in raised position or raised as the manually operated lever is depressed and thereafter when energy is stored in the spring the driver is released so as to cause it to move downwardly and drive a staple under the action of the spring. f

One object of the invention is to provide mechanism which will restrict the driving power of the actuating spring during the initial part of the driving stroke, thereby reducing the destruction which would be caused if a staple became jammed, but which thereafter produces a powerful driving stroke.

Another object of the invention is to vprovide a large amount of travel of the driver so that the driver has an opportunity to gather momentum before the fastener is actually driven into an object to be fastened.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wide arc or leverage action which increases the leverage of the operating lever lmore uniformly throughoutthe operation of said lever.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a present preferred embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the device with the parts in their starting positions; i

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but'showf ing the parts at that stage of a staple driving stroke in which the manually operated lever has been fully depressed;

14. Claims.,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2 but showing the parts in the positions which they assume vat a slightly Vlater stage of the staple driving stroke after the toggle has passed dead center; v

Figure 4 is a view similar to the previous iig-V ures but showing the parts in the positions which they occupy toward the end of a staple driving stroke; y

Figure 5 is a horizontal longitudinal section taken on the line V-V of Figure 4, certain parts being omitted for clearness of illustration;

Figure 6 is aside elevation of the front lportion of the machine, showing the staple driver guide swung to its open position;

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section taken on the irregular line VII-VII of Figure r1 vertical section taken on the line XIII-XIII of' Figure 12, and Figure 14 is a bottom plan view of the block forming a part of and holder for the staple driver; f

Figure 15 is a 'plan view, Figure 1.6 is a 'side elevation and Figure '17 is an end elevation of a latch for locking the plvoted staple driver guide shown in Figures 9, 10 and'll in operative position;`

Figure 18 is a plan View and Figure 19 is a` side elevation of a link which connects the staple driver block with the spring actuated rocker arms;

Figures 20, 21 and 22 are, respectively, 'a plan. a side elevation and an end view of a bolt which connects the manually operated lever with the rocker arms and acts as a spring guide; n

Figures A23 and 24 are, respectively, a side elevation and al plan view of one of the rocker armsv forming apart of the staple driving mechanism;

Figures 25 and 26 are, respectively, a plan View and an end view of a swivel block; l I

Figure 27 is a front elevation of the staple driv-A ing blade;

Figures 28 and 29 are schematic diagrams showing the staple driving mechanism in diierent positions;

Figures 30, 31 and 3'2 illustrate a different em'- bodiment of the invention.

Figure 30 isY a' vertical longitudinal section through the device with the parts in their 'starting positions;l

Figure 31 is a View simuar te Figure so but showing the parts after the manually operated lever has been depressed and the staple driver has been raised and the driving spring' has been compressed but vprior to the downward stroke of the staple driver; and 7 r Figure 32 is a transverse section taken on the line XXXI-XXXII@FigureSU.y f

lReferring more `particularly to the accom# panying drawings and Afor the present to' the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-30, the base 2 of the machine constitutes 'a staple magazine in which a stlckoffstaples is .inserted and the individual staples are fed forwardly vto a staple driving throat underneath a staple driving blade 3 and there acted upon by the staple driving blade as hereinafter explained. The staple magazine 2 is a box-like structure made of sheet metal and is substantially U-shaped in cross-section. It has a base 2a, see Figure 8, a vertical side wall 2b, and a vertical side wall 2c. The top edges of the walls 2b and 2c are turned in, as illustrated at 2d, leaving a space or slot 3 through which a stick of staples S can be inserted. The stick of staples is placed over a U-shaped staple guide 4, as shown in Figure 8, and the stick is pressed downwardly so as to press the hooked ends 5 of the resilient staple hold-down member 6 aside so as to allow the staples to be placed on the guide. Thereafter, the resilient hold-down members 6 snap over the staples so that they assume the position shown in Figure '7. The staples are moved forwardly along the guide 4 by a staple pusher or follower 1, shown in Figure 1. The staple follower is of inverted U-shape in cross-section and is of the same configuration as the staples. It is moved forward by a coil spring 8. one end 8 of which is secured to an upturned end l of the staple guide 4. The spring passes around a pulley ll located at the forward end of the staple magazine and its other end l2 ts in a slot I3 formed in a tab i4 which is integral with the body of the staple pusher. The rear end l5 of the staple guide 4 is sloped downwardly and rearwardly so that the pusher can be tilted as shown in Figure 1, in which position the forward end i6 of the pusher fits into a notch Il formed in the hold-down member 6. The staple pusher is moved to the tilted position shown in Figure 1 only when a stick of staples is inserted into the staple magazine 2. In its normal and operative position the hold-down member is horizontal andlies behind and in line with the stickof staples and below the inturned anges 5 of the hold-down member 6. In this position the pusher moves the staples forwardly in the magazine to a position underneath the staple driving blade to be described.

The rear end of the staple magazine 2 is provided with two upstanding brackets 20 which are spaced apart transversely of the machine. The forward portion of the staple magazine is provided with two upstanding brackets 2| spaced transversely of the machine. A lower hand grip portion 65 is connected at one end to the brackets 26 and at the other end to the brackets 2 I. The front end of the machine is closed by a staple driverguide indicated generally by the reference numeral 22, which guide is shown in Figures 9, 10 and l1. This guide is of generalv U-shape in cross-section, having a front vertical wall 22a, a rearwardly extending vertical side wall 22D, and a rearwardly extending vertical side wall 22o. The guide 22 is open at the top and bottom. The guide is formed with a shoulder 25, the lower part of the guide being somewhat wider than the upper part. The sides 22h and v22e of the guide have lnturned flanges 26, which provides a space 21 (see Figure 11) in which a staple driver block 28 (see Figure 13) slides. Referring to Figures 12, 13, 14 and 27, the staple driver' comprises a blade 29, which 'forms the lower Vpart of the driver, and a block 28 which forms the upper part of the driver. The block is generally rectangular in front view, as shown in Figure 12, and isprovided with an opening 30 for a purpose later described. Its front face is provided 'with an arcuate slot 3l, which receives the arcuate upper portion 32 of the blade 29. The rear face of the block has an upwardly extending projection 33.

It will be seen that when the arcuate portion 32 of the blade is pressed into the arcuate slot 3l of the block 28, and the two parts of the staple driver are placed in position within the staple driver guide 22, that the blade 29 is securely connected to the block 28 and that the block 28 is guided between the front wall 22a of the guide 22 and the inturned flanges 26. The lower part of the guide 22 has two vertical plates 34-for guiding the blade 29 and a plate 35 secured to the plates 34, the plate 35 being spaced from the front wall 22a to provide a staple driving throat 36 shown in Figure 1l, which guides the staple and the lower end of the blade 29.

The upper end of the guide 22 is formed with ears 38 provided with holes 39. The guide 22 is pivoted on a. pin 46 which extends through the holes 39 and through holes formed in the frame brackets 2l. Accordingly, the guide 22 can be swung to the open position shown in Figure 6 in order to remove a jammed staple. The guide 22 is formed with notches 4I (see Figure 1 0) which receive the ears 42 of the latch shownvin Figures 15, 16 and 17 when the guideis moved to locked position. The latch 43 has two sides 43a and a cross piece 43h. The side pieces 43a, are formed with holes 44 which receive a pin 44a, which is supported by the frame brackets 2l.

A link 46H, (see Figures 18 and 19) is pivoted on;

a pin 41 (see Figure 1) extending into holes 41a in the link 46 and into holes 4'lb formed in two rocker arms 48, one of which is shown in Figures v 23 and 24. The rocker arms are pivoted on -a pin 49 which extends through holes 49a formed in the rocker arms and into holes formed in thev frame brackets 2l.

Referringmore particularly to the removable connection between the link 46 and the driver block 28, the link 46 hastwo verticalA sides 46a:

by contact with the bridging eye portion 46h andA said bridging portion cannot move verticallydue to contact with the upper and lower surfaces of opening 30 in block 28. Lugs 46o keep the link from sliding forward. The connection between thelink 46 and the block 28 is such as to enable a rocking motion between the two parts while still retaining them connected together.

The rear ends of the rocker arms 48 are offset inwardly toward each other and are provided with holes awhich receive a pin 50. Thisy pin is mountedin holes 56h formed in the forked end of Va. bolt 52 (see Figure 2l) Thus the bolt 52 Vis pivotally connected by the pin 50 to the rocker arms 48. A thrust washer 53 fits loosely around.

the left-hand end of the-bolt 52 so that the bolt and washer can move relative toeach other. ,A

coil spring 54 fits around the bolt 52 and has one.

which nt into open sided slots 56 formed in a bracket 51 secured to the underside of an operati ing lever 58 which is of inverted U-shaped 'in cross-section and comprises atop wall 58a and two downwardly extending side walls 581).` The end of the bolt 52 whichex'ten'ds throughithe swivel block 55 is threadedtoY receive a nut '66.

5, The 'operating lever 58 is pivotally mountedladjacent its forward end on the pin 40 which is supported in the `frame brackets 2l. A bracket 88a which acts to limit 'the downward movement of the staple driver `atthe end ofA the 'driving stroke, as later explained, is secured to the under side of and movable with the operating lever's. 'I'he'forwardA end ofthis bracket 60a has a cam portion 6| which positively rocks the rocker :arms 48 'when the operating lever '58 is rotated tothe position shown .in Figure 3,y thereby klowering the' driving plunger, resulting 1in the. shearing `and lowering oi' a staple from the supply of staples. Afspring -63 is coiled around the pin 40 .andhas an end B3n-pressing 'against the upper inner portion ofthe staple driver guide 22 and an end '83o which presses against the underside of the operating lever 58. The spring 63 serves the two purposesof-returning the operatin'glever 58 toits starting position after a staple driving operation and also of swingingthe staple driver guide `2l to the open position shown in Figure 46 when the guide is unlocked from the latch 43. A spring 64 is coiled around the pin 49 and has one end 84a pressing against the'A latch 43 for holding itin locking'po'sition. The otherend 64b of the spring presses against the underside of the pin 41 which connects the link 46 with the rocker arms 48, thev spring end 64b urging the staple driving Ablock 28 and the staple'driving blade 2S to the raised vstarting position shown in Figure v1 after arstaple has been vdriven.

The operation of the fastener device is as follows. Assume that a supply of staples S is `in the staple magazine 2 and that the staple pusher1 has been moved from the tilted position shown inlFigure 1 to a. horizontal position so that the staple pusher is operative to exert pressure through the lspring 8 against thestaples -to feed them forwardly through the staple magazine 2. The operating lever '58 is rotated clockwise about its pivot poi-nt 40 until it assumes the position shown in Figure 2 where the bracket 51 contacts a plate V51 on the hand grip 65. As the operating lever moves from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown inF-igure 2, `the distance between the .pivot point 50 Land the pivot of the swivel block 55 on the operating lever 58 decreases, thereby compressi-ng the driving spring `54. It will be Aseen that in Figure 1 the pivot -pin 50 which connects the bolt 52 and the rocker arms 48 lies below the line connecting the pivot pin 49 and the pivot point 55, this line being designated by the reference numeral in Figure v28. So long `as this condition exists, while the operating lever is-being rotated in a clockwise direction the-driving spring 54 is being compressed andthe spring is exerting its pressure in such direction as to tend to rotate the rocker arms 48 clockwise and to maintain the staple driver 28 in its raised position. the raised position of the block 28 being determined by contact of the block with a projection 2 la on the lframe 2l y(see Figure 1). When the operating lever has reached the position shown lin Figure 2, the driving spring 54 has'been compressed and the pin 50 is slightly above the line (designated 1I in Figure A28) which joins the pivot 49 with the pivot 55. In this position lthe spring 54 tends to rotate the rocker arms 48 counterclockwise and to lower the staple driver. When the rocker arms have rotated'slightly further in a counter-clockwise direction to the `position shown in Figure 3, the staple driver blade 28 has been lowered enough to contact the leading staple S and move it downward slightly. Thev force exertedon link 4B yby the springv at this" 'stageiisirather slightdue to thezfact that :th'ef pivot point :Soils only slightly above the lline 1l and therefore if a staple becomes jammed it does not 'cause rupture of the machine. .If ,jamming occurs lthe guide 122 can `be swung to the open position 'shown in Figure 6Y and the jammed staple removed'a'fter the operating lever shas been' released by the operator Aand allowed to return.

to `thek position shown in vFigure f1. However, as thel .rocker arms 48 moveto the position shown in Figures 4 kand '29, the leverage action of 'the spring on the rocker arms becomes greater .land greater fierce is exerted von the staple driver through vthe link 4B; Thus .thegreatest-forceon However, thiscam portion can be omittedfsince thevoperation can ybe accomplished withoutv its use :but itv will be used on certain -typesofstaples which are; bonded together'l more securely than others and where it vis desired to lower vor partially drive a staple while the driving spring is beingeoxnpressed.

It 'willv'be noted that inFigures 2 and 3 the nut '68 onthe bolt 52 has-.moved awa-yi-fromfthe swivel .block V55. As the. parts moveA from the positionfshown in Figure 3 to .tllat'shownin:Fig--v uref 4 thefspring 54 expands :and the nut 68 appreaches'the .swivel vblock 55 land the thrust washer '5 3'gapproaches the stop `braicket 54a. `Asshown irirfigure 4, the nut 60 contacts thel'swivel block at .fipproximately the same time as the vthrust washer contacts the vbracket 60a. lAfter the washer 53 has contacted the bracket 60a, thesxnomentum of the rocker arms 48 causes them tqlrotagte counterclockwise lslightly further from jthedposition kshown in Figure 4, land 'this causes the driver blade 29 to move downward slightly-further from the position shown. Since the thrust washer 53 is in contact with the bracketa andthe nut 60 'is incontao-t with `the swiveleblock 55. this further cmomentum `movement-of the rocker armspulls the .bolt 52', nut 68 and the swivel `block to the left from the positionsf-jshown in Figure L5V and causes the swivel block `to move to the lleft in its slot "58, thereby recompressing the spring 54 between' washerJ and swivel blockV 55 and thereby cushioning the nalrstage of the-staple driving operation. 'Dure' ing the staple driving 4operation .the link '46 and pin 41 move downwardly, thereby tensionlngthe spring legr64b.

After va-'staple has been driven. :the `spring end 64b whiohis in contact with the pin 41 raises. lthe link 45, driver block 28 .and driver blade '29; to the starting position .shown in. Figure l, and kthe spring end 68h raises the operating lever 58 toits starting position.

Figures 30., 31 "and 232 illustrate a modification of 'the invention. The device comprises a .base or frame havinga window 8 l anda handfgrip portion 82. A staple driver guide indicated gene erally `by ythe Vreference vnumeral 83 is located at 7 the' forward end oi thev machine. This guide comprises two front wall portions 83a, a. side Wall 83h and a side wall 83o, the guide Abeing generally of U-shape in horizontal cross-section, as shown in Figure 32. A staple driver 84 is arranged within the-guide 83, this staple driver comprising an upper portion which is Ufshaped in horizontal cross-section, comprising a front wall 84a and two side walls 84o. A rectangular plate 84cforms -thelcwer part of the staple'driver, the upper and lower `parts of the driver being made integral with each other. Two links 85 are located inside of the driver 84 and are pivotally connected to the driver by a pinA 86. The -upper ends of the links 85 arepivotally connected by a pin 81 to two rocker arms 88 which are pivoted to the frame by a pin 89. The pin`09 also extends through plates 90 which form a part of the guider for the staple driver 84. At its right-hand end each of the rocker arms 88 is formed with a hole 88a which receives a trunnion 9|a extending out-h nion's-Bl pivotally mounted in open sided slots 98 formed in a bracket 99 secured to an operating lever |00. The bolt 93 ilts loosely in a bore formed in the swivel block 96and has a head1 tot v Af- The operating lever is pivotally mounted' adjacent its" forward end on a pin |02 mounted in the frame of the machine." A spring. r|03- lis coiled aroundthe pin |02 and hasone end 103cv pressingA against the frame and the other end |03b'pressing against the under side of the operating lever |00 in order-to raise the operating lever toI starting position after a staple driving stroke. f'

A 1atch |04 is-pivotally mounted on' a, pin |05 supported' bythe operating lever |00. The latch" |04 has'. 'a notch |01 which receives a pin |06 which extends between and is supportedby the" rcken'arms 88; AA spring |88 lis coiled around the pin BS-and hasone end |08a pressing against the frame 82 and the other endi |0819 pressing against the nut 9|. v y The loperation of the' device is as follows. As the operating'lever |00 is depressed it rotates clockwise about thepivot pin 102.* Clockwise rotation of the operating" lever 100 raises pin |05, latch |04, pin- |00 and link 85. It also' causes clockwise rotation of rockerarms 88 and com# pression of springz 95, 'When link 85 has been raised to the position shown in 'Figure 31, the

-pin a1 contacts the' cmsapieee ma@ of nich |04,

thereby releasing Vthe pin |06 from its notch |01'. Thereafter the rocker arms 818 are free to rotate counterclockwise about the pin 89' under the ex'- pansion of the driving spring 95. v This causes lowering of the staple driver 84 so asto drive a staple 'arranged in proper position under' the' driver. A spring H0, coiled around pin |05, has one end |`|0a` pressing against` the underside ofthe forward end of the operating lever |00 and its opposite end ||0b pressing against the latch |04 toV maintain the latch in contact with the pin 108 until the latch |04 is moved away'from the pin |06 by-contact of the pin 81 with the latch `as described. The function `of spring end |08b `which contacts the nut 9| connected to'the bolt 93 is to urge the 'rocker arms clockwise so as to keep pin |06 in engagement with latch |04. AAfter the parts have reached the position shown in Figure 3l and the pin |06 has been released from the latch |04, the driving spring 95 expands and causesv counterclockwise rotation of the 'rocker arms 88. Rotation of the rocker arms is-limited.

by contact of the thrust Washer 94 With the upper parts 90a of plates 90. After washer 94 has been stopped by parts 90a and head |0| of bolt 93 has contacted the swivel block 9l, the momentum of the`rocker arms 88 pulls the bolt 93, nut |0| and the swivel block 99 to the left from the positions shown inA Figure 32 and causes the swivel block to move to the left in its slot 98, thereby recompressing the spring 95 between washer 94 and swivel block 96 and cushioning the end ofthe driving stroke. Y

. While I have illustrated and described pre-- ferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied or practiced within the scope of the following claims.

VI claim:

1.' In' a fastener applying device, a driving.v plunger reciprocably mounted in a plunger guide; means for feeding fasteners into position to be driven by said plunger, means for actuating saidl plunger during a fastening operation, said plunger having an opening and a hook portion extending upwardly from the rear face'of said plunger to a point above the lower edge of said opening, a link connecting said plunger to said actuating means, said link having an eye portion adapted to nt over and be restrained from rearward movement by said hook portion, said eye1v portion being received in said opening and being restrained from vertical movement thereby, said link also having a lug adapted to contact the rear face of said plunger to prevent forward sliding movement of the link, said connection permitting` a rocking motion between said link and said" plunger :but preventing vertical and horizontal v movement between said link and'said plunger.

2.. In a fastener applying device, a frame, a fastener driver reciprocably mounted ina driver guide, means for feeding fasteners into position to be driven by said driver, an operating lever pivoted to said frame, a rocker arm pivoted'to' said frame and operably connected to said 'driver to aotuate the latter, a spring guide pivotally con-f nected adjacent one end to said rocker varm and adjacent its other end pivotally connected to said operating lever', and a driving spring carried .by said spring guide and interposed-'between said pivots of said spring guide and adapted-to be compressed on depression of said operating lever and thereafter to expand to thereby exert' pressure on said rocker arm to rotate the latter to apply a fastener. 1 i 3. In avfastener applying device, aframe, a" fastener driver mounted for reciprocable movement in a driver guide, a rocker arm pivoted toY said frame and operatively connected to said driver to actuate the latter, an operating-lever pivoted-A to said frame', a spring guide pivotally connected to said rocker arm andsaid operating lever, and a driving spring carried by said spring guide and interposed between said pivots of said spring guide for actuating said rocker arm vupon depressing said operating lever. 4.' In a fastenerv applying device, a frame, a' fastener driver mounted for reciprocable movement in a driver guide, means forfeeding fasten;

ers into position to be driven by said driver, said 9.. driver being below driving position at the start thereby blocking a fastener from being fed', a rocker arm pivoted to said frame and operatively connected to said driver to actuate the latter, an operating lever pivoted to said frame, a spring guide pivotally connected at one end to and movable with said rocker arm and adjacent its Vother end pivotally supported on and movable with said operating lever, cooperating means between said spring guide and the latters pivotal connections permitting the latter to move towards each other, a driving spring rcarried by said spring guide and interposed between-said pivotal connections of saidspring guide, said spring adapted to be compressed upon depression of said operating lever and thereby exert pressure on said rocker arm to rotate the latter, releasable latching' means cooperating between said operating lever and said driving mechanism to rotate said rocker arm in reverse fastener applying direction as said operating lever is depressed, thereby lifting said driver above said fasteners to driving position and thereby permitting a fastener to be fed'into driving position below said driver, obstruction means adapted to release said latching means from its cooperating action as said operating lever is depressed and said driver is raised and said rocker arm is rotated reversely, thereby permitting said driving spring to expand to urge said rocker arm in fastener applying direction to apply a fastener.

5. In a fastener applying device having a spring actuated plunger reciprocably mounted in a plunger guide and means for feeding fasteners into position to be driven by said plunger, actuating means including a pivoted rocker arm operably connected to said plunger to reciprocate the latter to apply a fastener, a driving spring having one end operably connected to and bodily movable with said rocker arm around the pivot of said rocker arm to rotate the latter during a fastener applying stroke, the extended direction of said springs forceA against said rocket arm being adjacent the pivot of said rocker arm at the beginning of a fastener applying stroke, the rotation of said rocker arm by said spring during a fastener applying stroke acting to move the extended direction of the vsprings force against the rocker arm from a position adjacent to a position away from the pivot of said rocker arm, thereby increasing the leverage action of said spring on said rocker arm during a fastenerapplying stroke.

6. In a fastener applyingv device. a 4driving mechanism for a fastener driver, means vfor feeding fasteners into position to be driven by said driver, said mechanism comprising the following component parts in their starting position, a frame, a fastener driver mounted' for reciprocable movement in a driver guide, a rocker arm pivoted on said frame and operatively connected to said driver to reciprocate the latter, an operating lever pivoted to said frame, a spring guide pivotally connected adjacent one end to and movable with said rocket arm and pivotally connected adjacent its opposite end to and movable with said operating lever, cooperating means-between said spring guide and the latters pivotal connections permitting the latter to move towards each other, a driving spring carried by said spring f guide and interposed between said guides pivoted connections and adapted to be compressed on depression of said operating lever and thereby exert pressure on said rocker arm to rotate the latter, the axis of said driving spring on said spring guide upon depression of said operating lever to compress said spring being movable in an arc about the center point of said springV guides pivoted connection with said rocker arm from a position in which the extension of said driving springs axis passes from one side of the pivot of said rocker arm on the frame to a position in which the extension of said spring guides axis passes to the opposite side of the pivot of said rocker arm on said frame, whereby on depression of said operating lever, said driving spring is compressed and thereby exerts pressure on said rocker arm in reverse fastener applying direction and then reverses the direction of said pressure on said rocker arm permitting said spring to expand to urge said rocker' arm in fastener applying direction.

7. In a fastener applying device, a frame, a reciprocable fastener driver, means for feeding fastener into position to be driven by said driver, a rocker arm pivoted on said frame and operatively connected to said driver to actuate the latter, an operating lever -pivoted to said frame, a spring guide pivoted adjacent one end to and' movable with said rocker arm and adjacent its other end pivotally connected to vand movable with said operating lever, a driving spring'carried by said spring guide and interposed -between said pivots of said spring' guide, and adapted to be compressed to exert pressure against said rocker arm to rotate the latter with the direction of said springs force against ksaid rocker arm being movable on depression of said operating lever from a position in which said spring urges the rocker arm to rock in one direction to raise the fastener driver to a position in which the spring; urges the rocker arm to rock in a direction to lower the fastener driver.

8. In a fastener applying device,4 a fra-me, a fastener driver mounted for reciprocable movement in a driver guide, a rocker arm pivoted to said frame and operably connected to said driver to reciprocate the latter, an operating lever pivoted to said frame, a spring guide pivotally connected adjacent one end to said rocker arm andA adjacent its other end pivotally connected to said operating lever, a driving spring carried by said spring guide and interposed between said pivots of said spring guide and adapted to bev cornpressed on depression of said operating lever and thereby exert pressure on said rocker arm to rotate the latter. l

9. A device according to claimt,v further characterized by the pivot point of said springguide with. said rocker arm moving closer to a line drawn between said spring guides pivot on said operating lever and the pivot of said operating lever on said frame as said operating lever is depressed, thereby increasing the leverage advantage of said operating'lever as it is depressed.

10. In a fastener applying device having adriving plunger reciprocably mounted in a plunger guide, means for feeding fasteners into position to be driven by said plunger, means for actuating said plunger during a fastener operation, a link pivoted at one end to said actuating means and having a hooked connection with said driving plunger at its opposite end for operably connecting said plunger with said actuating means, said' link and said plunger constituting cooperating parts, one of said cooperating parts having a hook portion and the other of said cooperating parts having an opening for receiving the hook portion of the cooperating part, the hook portion being tiltable in its opening but being otherwise conned against substantial vertical and` horizontal movement.

11. In a fastener applying device, a fastener driver reciprocably mounted in a driver guide, means for feeding fasteners into position to be driven by said fastener driver, an operating lever pivoted on said frame, a driver actuating means operably connected to said driver to reciprocate the latter, a spring guide pivoted on and movable with said actuating means adjacent one end and having a pivotal support on and movable with said operating lever at its opposite end, the pivotal support of said springv gui-de on said operating lever being movable in relation to the latter, said spring guide being slidable in said pivotal support, a thrust washer loosely mounted on and movable with said spring guide and located between an end of the spring and the pivot of the spring guide on said actuating means, a driving spring carried by said spring guide and interposed between said thrust Washer and the spring guides pivotal support on said operating lever for urging said thrust washer and said pivotal support away from each other, and a stop on said spring guide for limiting expansion of said driving spring on said spring guide, said driving spring being adapted to be compressed between said thrust washer and said spring guides pivotal support on said operating lever as said operating lever is depressed whereby said spring exerts pressure on said actuating means to rotate the latter.

12. A device according to claim 11, further characterized by a stop on the device in the path of said thrust washer as the latter moves with said driver actuating means for limiting the driving movement of said thrust washer, and said driving spring, thereby opposing the driving end of said driving spring from further movement in the driving direction.

13. In a fastener applying device, afrarne, a fastener driver mounted for reciprocable movement in a driver guide, a driver actuating means operably connected to said driver to actuate the latter, a spring guide pivoted at one end by a guide supporting member to and movable with said driver actuating means, a driving spring on said guide having its driving end adjacent said guide supporting member and extending along said guide adjacent to a spring guide supporting means spaced apart from said guide supporting member, said guide supporting means being movably mounted, said driving spring being supported by said spring guide and interposed between said guide supporting member and said guide supporting means for urging said driver actuating means in fastener applying direction, a thrust washer loosely mounted on said spring guide and interposed between said guide supporting member and the driving end of said spring, means permitting relative movement of said lguide sup-` porting member and said guide supporting means toward each other for compressing said driving spring, means on said spring guide for limiting the maximum distance between said spring guide supporting member and said spring guide supporting means under the influence of said spring, a stop in the path of said thrust washer and the driving end of said driving spring as said washer and said spring end move'with said driver actuating means in fastener driving direction, said stop adapted to oppose the driving end of said driving spring from urging said driver actuating means, said driving spring's opposite end acting thereafter to oppose said movable guide support- 'ing means and said spring guide from moving in fastener applying direction, said driving spring thereby acting as a cushion to stop fastener applying movement of said xdriver and its actuating-4 means.

14. In a fastener applying device, a frame, a fastener driver reciprocably mounted in a drivel' guide, means for feeding fasteners into position to be driven by said driver, an operating lever pivoted adjacent one end to the frame, a rocker arm below said operating lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said frame and having one end operatively connected to said driver, a spring guide pivotally connected adjacent one end to the other end of said rocker arm and having its other end sldeable through a swivel block, a bracket secured to said operating lever, said bracket provided with an open ended slot opening toward said driver, said swivel block being mounted in said slot, a compression driving spring surround,-

ing said spring guide, a washer loosely mounted on said spring guide, said ldriving spring being interposed between said washer and said swivel block, a stop on said operating lever contacting said washer for preventing further movement of said washer after said driving spring hasexpanded in performing a fastener driving opera-` tion, and a stop on said spring guide and moveable REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the l,

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,905,254 Vogel Apr. 25, 1933v 2,086,922 Peterson July 13,' 1937 2,695,659 Cavanagh Oct. l2, 1937' 2,154,755 Krantz Apr. 18, 1939 

